CBSE Class VII English Chapter 1, Honeycomb (NCERT
Solutions)

Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy

Answer: The king wanted to know answers to three questions
because he thought that he would never fail in any venture if he knew the right
answers to these three questions.

Question 2: Messengers
were sent throughout the kingdom

(i) to fetch wise men.

(ii) to find answers to
the questions.

(iii) to look for the
wise hermit.

(iv) to announce a
reward for those who could answer the questions.

Answer: (iv)

NCERT Solutions of Comprehension Check (Page
14)

Question: Complete the
following sentences by adding the appropriate parts of the sentences given in
the box.

1. Many wise men
answered the king’s questions, ____

2. Someone suggested
that there should be a council of wise men ____

3. Someone else
suggested that the king should have a timetable ____

4. The king requested
the hermit ____

5. The king washed and
dressed the bearded man’s wound, _____

Answer:

1. Many wise men answered the king’s questions, but their
answers were so varied that the king was not satisfied.

2. Someone suggested that there should be a council of wise
men to help the king act at the right time.

3. Someone else suggested that the king should have a
timetable and follow it strictly.

4. The king requested the hermit to hermit to answer
three questions.

5. The king washed and dressed the bearded man’s wound, but
the bleeding would not stop.

NCERT Solutions of Working with Text Questions

Question 1: Why was the
king advised to go to the magicians?

Answer: Some of the wise men who came to answer the king’s questions
said that there might be some urgent problems which will need quick action instead
of waiting for the council’s decision. And, therefore, in order to decide the
right time to do something, one needs to know the future. Since only magicians
could tell about the future and decide the right time in no time so, they advised
the king to go to the magicians.

Question 2: In answer
to the second question, whose advice did the people say would be important to
the king?

Answer: In answer to the second question, people said that the
advices of the king’s councilors or the priests, or the doctors or the king’s
soldiers would be important to the king.

Question 3: What
suggestions were made in answer to the third question?

Answer: In answer to the third question, some men suggested
science would be most important. Some others said fighting while some advised
that religious worship would be the best affairs for the king to do.

Question 4: Did the
wise men win the reward? If not, why not?

Answer: No, the wise men did not win the reward because the
answers to the king’s questions were so different, that he was not satisfied
and gave no reward to anyone.

Question 5: How did the
king and the hermit help the wounded man?

Answer: The king and the hermit removed the wounded man’s
clothing, washed the wound in his stomach and covered it with a handkerchief. The
king redressed the wound until the bleeding stopped. The king brought fresh
water and gave it him. Finally, with the hermit’s help the king carried the wounded
man into the hut and laid him on the bed.

Question 6: (i) Who was
the bearded man? (ii) Why did he ask the king’s forgiveness?

Answer:

(i) The bearded man was an enemy of the king. His grievance
was that the king had put his brother to death and taken away all his properties.
His intention was to take revenge and kill the king on his way home.

(ii) The bearded man felt very grateful to the king who had
saved his life. His attitude was changed altogether. He begged the king to
forgive him and wished to serve the king as a faithful servant.

Question 7: The king
forgave the bearded man. What did he do to show his forgiveness?

Answer: The king was glad to make peace with his enemy. He
not only forgave him but also sent doctor and servants to look after him. The
king also promised the bearded man to return his properties.

Question 8: What were
the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer separately.
Which answer do you like the most and why?

Answer: In answer to the king’s first question, the hermit
said there is only one important time which is ‘Now’ or ‘The present’. In
answer to the king’s second question, the hermit said the most important person
is the person with whom we are at a given time. We can make an everlasting
friendship with him. In response to the king’s third question the hermit said, the
most important business is to do a good to that person with whom one is at that
moment.

I would say the best answer is that of the first question - the
most important time is ‘Now’ or the present. Because, ‘Past’ is gone while we
don’t know about ‘Future’ but ‘Present’ is at hand when we can act.